Travis Kelce Confirms Stance on Carson Wentz’ First Chiefs Start After Patrick Mahomes Refuses to

The ͏Kansas Cit͏y Chiefs, riding high at 1͏3-1 and ͏already clinching a͏ play͏off spot, have been one of the NFL’s ͏most dominant ͏t͏eams this season. Led by ͏st͏ar quarterb͏ack Patrick Mahomes and ti͏gh͏t͏ e͏n͏d Tra͏vis Kelce, the͏ te͏am is eyeing the͏ir third consecutive ͏Super͏ Bowl win. Howev͏er,͏ ͏Mahome͏s’ ankle inju͏ry during͏ the ͏We͏ek 15 ͏victory over the ͏Bro͏wns ͏has left fans͏ on ͏edge.

On a recent New Heights podcast episode, Travis shared his thoughts on Carson Wentz potentially stepping in as the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback. While discussing Patrick Mahomes’ injury, Travis revealed that Wentz is “prepped and ready to rock and roll,” calling him a ‘pro’s pro’ who takes his job seriously and is always ready for opportunities. With Mahomes nursing what Travis jokingly referred to as “weak ankles,” the Chiefs’ tight end assured fans that the team is in good hands if Wentz gets the nod.

Travis praised Mahomes for being one of the “toughest guys in the league,” someone who plays through pain while keeping the team’s best interests in mind. “He’s going to tape it up and be just fine,” Travis quipped, noting that Mahomes has faced similar injuries before. However, it’s clear that if Wentz is needed, the Chiefs won’t miss a beat.

With Mahomes’ availability uncertain, the veteran QB is preparing to start against the Houston Texans this Saturday. Wentz, who joined the Chiefs in the offseason as a backup, remains ready. “I’ve been preparing like I’m going to play every week,” Wentz said.

Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, brings experience from stints with the Eagles, Colts, and Commanders. His brief appearance last week showed promise, and his calm approach could help the Chiefs manage their tight schedule of three games in 11 days. With Mahomes “taking all the reps” in practice, Kelce remains confident, adding, “He’ll tape it up and be just fine.” For now, though, Wentz may need to lead the charge.

Patrick Mahomes suffered a concerning high ankle sprain during the Chiefs’ win over the Cleveland Browns. The injury happened in a fourth-quarter scramble when Mahomes was hit low by Dalvin Tomlinson and high by Mike Hall, leaving him visibly shaken. Despite being eager to continue, Mahomes was sidelined for the rest of the game—a call he admitted didn’t sit well with him. “I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances,” Mahomes shared, hinting at his fiery competitiveness.

Head coach Andy Reid stood firm on his decision, emphasizing player safety. “He wanted to fight about it, but we’ve got good support there behind him with Carson [Wentz],” Reid said, adding that it was important to get Wentz some snaps in case he’s needed again. Mahomes acknowledged the delicate balance of protecting himself while staying competitive. “You don’t want to go out there and put yourself in harm’s way. It’s football, you’re going to take hits, but you want to be able to protect yourself,” Mahomes explained.

With a short week ahead and a dangerous Texans pass rush looming, Mahomes remains optimistic about his chances of playing, but only if it doesn’t limit the team. “I want to be able to move. I won’t know until closer to the end of this week,” he said.